Huckabee visits Christian church in West Financial institution that was once goal of arson assault by way of NewsFlicks

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on Saturday visited a Christian village within the occupied West Financial institution and steered duty for an assault on an historical church, which citizens have blamed on Israeli settlers.

In early July, the village of Taybeh was once hit by way of an arson assault within the space of the ruins of the Byzantine-era Church of Saint George, which dates again to the 5th century.

Citizens blamed settlers for the hearth, which comes as violence soars within the West Financial institution and closing week noticed an American-Palestinian guy killed close to Ramallah.

Israel has to this point now not spoke back to CBS Information’ requests for details about the incident.

Huckabee, an evangelical Christian and staunch recommend for Israel, stated his travel to Taybeh aimed to “categorical cohesion with the individuals who simply need to reside their lives in peace, in an effort to pass to their very own land, in an effort to pass to their position of worship.”

“It isn’t important whether or not it is a mosque, a church, a synagogue,” he advised newshounds.

“It is unacceptable to devote an act of sacrilege by way of desecrating a spot this is intended to be a spot of worship.”

“We can undoubtedly insist that those that perform acts of terror and violence in Taybeh or anyplace be discovered, be prosecuted, now not simply reprimanded. That is not sufficient,” he stated.

“Folks wish to pay a worth for doing one thing that destroys that which belongs now not simply to people, however that which belongs to God.”

Within the villages and communities round Taybeh, Palestinian government reported that settlers had killed 3 other folks and broken or destroyed a couple of water assets previously two weeks by myself.

Israel has occupied the West Financial institution since 1967 and violence has surged within the territory for the reason that Hamas assault of Oct. 7, 2023, that induced the Israel-Hamas battle.

Huckabee, who has for years been an outspoken supporter of Jewish agreement within the Palestinian territories, on Tuesday demanded an competitive investigation and penalties after settlers beat to demise a Palestinian-American within the West Financial institution.

It was once an indication of uncommon public force towards U.S. best friend Israel by way of the Trump’s management.